SMC Airport Arts Campus COVID-19 Test Site

New Walk-Up COVID-19 Testing Site in Santa Monica Now Open by Appointment Only

SANTA MONICA, Calif — Effective Thursday, May 7, the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services—in coordination with the State of California, OptumServe, and Santa Monica College—has opened a walk-up, by appointment only novel coronavirus (COVID-19) testing location at the Santa Monica College (SMC) Airport Arts Campus, 2800 Airport Avenue. Testing is available to anyone for free as part of Governor Newsom’s expanded testing capacity to reopen California as well as L.A. County’s commitment to providing expanded access to testing for county residents.

Testing is open five days a week, Monday - Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., by appointment only and no drop-in appointments will be taken. Appointments are available for the following day only. Sign up at covid19.lacounty.gov/testing. L.A. County residents without digital access can call (888) 634-1123, where operators can assist with registration and schedule an appointment. The testing site at SMC’s Airport Arts Campus can accommodate pedestrians with appointments, and parking is available for those who arrive in a car.

“As the County begins a slow and measured process of re-opening businesses and other establishments, testing will be a critical component for measuring the results, so I am very glad that this new site has opened at Santa Monica College so that people can conveniently monitor whether they have the virus, and be better able to protect their own health and the health of those they love,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl.

“Access to testing is an indicator in the safe re-opening of our economy and civic life,” said Interim City Manager and Director of Emergency Services Lane Dilg. “We appreciate the Governor and Los Angeles County’s ongoing efforts to take bold and aggressive steps to protect the public health. We encourage Santa Monicans to take advantage of this new resource close to home.”

Santa Monica College Superintendent/President Dr. Kathryn E. Jeffery said the college is “here to serve the community, and especially so during this challenging time that has affected everyone we care about.”

“Although I had no symptoms, I decided to register for the test to see firsthand how everything would work,” Jeffery said. “Registering online was easy, the test site was not crowded and the staff and nurses doing the intake and testing were professional and very kind. I was in and out in about 15 minutes from my appointment time to the finish of the test, which took only a few seconds."

The following factors DO NOT affect eligibility: immigration status, insurance status, age or underlying health issues. The testing is administered and managed by the private lab OptumServe. Appointments are scheduled on a first come, first served basis.

Test results may take up to 2-3 days. Individuals with positive test results will be notified by a phone call. Negative test results will be accessed by logging into a secure website.